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Oxidative stress significantly elevated in patients with allergic rhinitis

Patients with allergic rhinitis demonstrated elevated oxidative stress and elevated total antioxidant status levels, according to data from a retrospective analysis.

“Our results indicate that both serum [total antioxidant status (TAS)] and [total oxidant status (TOS)] levels are significantly higher in the [allergic rhinitis (AR)] group compared with a control group,” Chang Sun Sim, MD, PhD, of the department of occupational and environmental medicine at Ulsan University Hospital in South Korea, and colleagues wrote. “[Oxidative stress index], which is a more objective evaluation of oxidative stress conditions compared with separately evaluating the TAS and TOS, indicated the exact degrees of imbalance of oxidative stress toward the oxidant status.”

Sim and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis during 2009 and 2010 of a single center prospective database to analyze the connection between systemic oxidative stress and AR. The analysis included 90 children who had experienced AR in the previous year and 90 children listed as healthy controls.

Mean TAS (1.74 mmol/L vs. 1.71 mmol/L) and mean TOS (5.21 µmol/L vs. 4.3 µmol/L) levels were significantly higher in the children with AR compared with controls.

TAS (adjusted OR = 1.007; 95% CI, 1.001-1.012) and TOS (aOR = 1.176; 95% CI, 1.007-1.373) were significantly associated with a 1-year increased risk for AR.

“Further study is required to obtain an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of systemically elevated oxidative stress and TAS levels in patients with AR and how to apply these results to the treatment of AR,” the researchers wrote. – by Ryan McDonald

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.